Shenna Bellows on Government Reform

Funding her campaign $5 at a time from local events

71% of Mainers still don't know who she is, and she has been adamant about funding her campaign $5 at a time from local events such as the one at the Machias Grange. Passionate about local food systems and working people, the tactic may work for her.
She is looking for the type of grassroots involvement that rural Maine runs on.

Saying that she would like to be the Elizabeth Warren of civil liberties she states, "You will always know where I stand and I will always listen to your opinions."

Same-day voter registration for Maine & federally

Bellows is urging passage of federal same day voter registration legislation. "Maine voters endorsed same day voter registration at the polls in 2011, and Congress should follow Maine's lead," said Bellows. "The attack on voting rights nationwide
threatens our democracy, and it's time that good people from all parties take a stand to protect our voting rights. I pledge to work with Republicans and Democrats alike to modernize our voter registration systems, just like
I did on the 2011 Protect Maine Votes campaign."

Bellows co-chaired the 2011 Protect Maine Votes referendum campaign to restore same day voter registration when Republicans in the legislature struck it down in 2011. Maine has enjoyed same day voter
registration since 1973, and it consistently enjoys one of the highest voter participation rates in the country. Voter participation for the 10 states with same day voter registration is higher than states without same day voter registration.

Role in campaign to restore same-day voter registration

Bellows, 38, has strong credentials in some Maine political circles for her high-profile roles in recent campaigns to legalize same-sex marriage and restore same-day voter registration. Her candidacy appears to have energized some
Democrats in a race overshadowed so far by the races for governor and Maine's 2nd Congressional District seat. As executive director of the civil liberties union, Bellows was often front and center during legislative debates over constitutional issues.